2017 • VOLUME 54 NUMBER 2 BETTER CHEMISTRY WITH NANOPARTICLES
Palladium. Platinum. Gold. Ruthenium. There’s something noble about Xiaohu Xia’s chemistry research. He engineers nanoparticle structures to improve colorimetric assays that detect disease biomarkers. 2017 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 2017 • VOLUME 54 NUMBER 2
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STORIES
12 No Business Like Show 26 Traveling Through 36 Two-Fold Business Time–Digitally by Allison Mills by Cyndi Perkins by Kelley Christensen At the Sustainable Futures
Cue the applause: Journey into the peninsula’s Institute, preserving From high-fying stunts past with the Keweenaw landscapes comes down to to audiobook characters, Time Traveler. crunching numbers in a life Michigan Tech graduates cycle assessment. make their mark in the 30 Glenn Mroz: entertainment industry. Level 5 Leadership 44 My Cousin, My Brother by Shannon Rinkinen 15 Cause-Driven Life by Marty Richardson
by Jennifer Donovan A former Michigan Tech Back in India, Harsh Malu Board of Control chair and Prannay Malu lived Therapeutic horseback refects on the presidency of 10 hours apart and—in a riding. Education in remote Glenn D. Mroz. country with more than a communities. Clean water billion people—likely would for an island nation. Across have never crossed paths. the globe, Huskies work 34 Tenacity Knows Except they came here, to and live for a cause. No Bounds Michigan Tech. by Shannon Rinkinen 20 2045: The Michigan Tech Graduate Navigating classes, cancer, and chemo tested student by Kelley Christensen Larry Stambeck Jr.’s grit. He got by—and survived— What Michigan Tech is thanks to help from fellow doing today to stay on the Huskies. leading edge of tomorrow.
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REGULAR FEATURES
06 1400 Townsend Drive Michigan Tech Magazine Published by University Marketing and Communications 42 Q&A with Coach Joe Shawhan Ian Repp—Director of University Marketing and Communications
45 Alumni Engagement Stefanie Sidortsova—Managing Editor
48 Class Notes Jackie Johnson—Art Director
Vassilissa Semouchkina—Graphic Comments to the editor: 50 In Memoriam Designer [email protected]
Sarah Bird—Photographer Website: mtu.edu/magazine Shannon Rinkinen— Articles Editor Class Notes submissions and mailing Sarah Williams—Advancement and address changes: Alumni Engagement Editor [email protected]
Crystal Verran—Director of Operations Michigan Technological University is an equal opportunity educational institution/ Taj Mihelich— Freelance Artist equal opportunity employer, which includes providing equal opportunity for Marty Richardson—Guest Writer protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Austin Thompson—Freelance Photographer
2017 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 5 1400 Townsend Drive
THE ANATOMY OF . . . IN JUST THREE YEARS, this larger-than-life dog has become an THE HUSKY STATUE icon on campus. He’s donned a white coat for National Engineers Week, sat nicely for thousands of photo ops (er, selfies), and provided a centrally located meeting spot on campus (“Let’s meet at The Dog . . . no, not THAT Dog.”)
Learn more about our beloved statue at the heart of campus.
The proud pup sits on a 25-ton, 1.8 billion-years-old boulder— a gift from civil engineering alumnus Roland Huhtala ’74— harvested from a quarry near Covington, Michigan.
6 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2017 WIDTH3'
HEIGHT HEAD T O 9' 1" TAIL 9' 3" OCTOBER 13, 2014 13, OCTOBER BIRTHDAY BIRTHDAY
THE DOG/ PREFERRED THE ROCK DOG/ PRONOUNS HE/HIM/HIS THE HUSKY STATUE— WEIGHT
PREFERRED NAME JUST DON’T CALL HIM BALTO, PLEASE. 1,600 LBS SCULPTOR WE O U R BRIAN HANLON D ON OR S OUR HUSKY STATUE WAS MADE POSSIBLE OF HANLON SCULPTURE STUDIO THANKS TO DAN (1945–2015) AND JOAN LORENZETTI, FRIENDS OF MICHIGAN TECH.
Knock, knock. What’s inside? Nothing! This Husky is made from a hollow, bronze casting. 4,500 pavers—including 1,030 personalized, engraved pavers—surround The Dog in an area of campus known as Husky Plaza. (Find your paver at mtu.edu/alumni/recognition/plaza.)
2017 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 7 1400 Townsend Drive
AVERAGE3.26 GPA (GENERAL STUDENT POPULATION—3.07)
203ACADEMIC RECEIVED ALL-CONFERENCE RECOGNITION
3ALL-AMERICANS ACADEMIC
58.2ENGINEERINGPERCENT MAJORS
85.6RETENTIONPERCENT RATE
GRADUATION72 PERCENT RATE (FIVE–YEAR AVERAGE)
(2016–17)
YOU ALREADY KNOW MICHIGAN TECH ATHLETES ARE CRAZY SMART— BUT JUST HOW SMART?
Huskies are here to work hard in the lab and classroom—and out on the field, court, and ice. “Our athletic teams are as dedicated to earning their degrees as they are to winning championships. Their ‘smarts’ are an advantage in high-pressure situations—and it really sets us apart. Michigan Tech student-athletes raise the bar with their overall GPA, retention, and graduation rates,” says Suzanne Sanregret ’93 ’06, athletic director, Michigan Tech.
8 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2017 MIT, JOHNS HOPKINS, CALTECH, GEORGIA TECH, AND MICHIGAN TECH
A STEM college is defined as one where more Earlier this year, Forbes named the top 25 than 50 percent of the majors are in STEM fields. colleges and universities in the nation for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and—no surprise— Michigan Tech made the cut. “IT IS EXCITING TO SEE THE The prestigious list includes MIT, CalTech, INCREASING RECOGNITION Carnegie Mellon, Johns Hopkins, and OF THE HIGH QUALITY Georgia Tech. AND ACCESSIBILITY OF A MICHIGAN TECH Read and share, Huskies! EDUCATION.” mtu.news/2v2eNzr – MICHIGAN TECH PRESIDENT GLENN MROZ ‘74 ‘77
2017 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 9 1400 Townsend Drive
AIR FORCE FUNDS MICHIGAN TECH RESEARCH
THE TINY THRUSTER REQUIRES NO FRAGILE NEEDLES AND IS ESSENTIALLY INDESTRUCTIBLE. THE PEAKS ALSO HEAL THEMSELVES AND REGROW IF DAMAGED.
What’s magnetic, ionic, and can turn spiky To solve this problem, L. Brad King, Ron The team is also collaborating with Juan like a hedgehog? Ferrofluids. What’s the big and Elaine Starr Professor in Space Systems Fernandez de la Mora, a professor of deal? Michigan Tech researchers are looking at Michigan Tech, is creating a new kind of mechanical engineering and materials to these needle-like jets of ionic fluid in microthruster that assembles itself out of science at Yale University, one of the world’s hopes they’ll one day propel small satellites its own propellant when excited by a leading experts in electrospray. through space. magnetic field. In addition to spacecraft propulsion, Approximately 1,300 active satellites “We’re working with a unique material ferrofluid electrospray technology could currently orbit the Earth. Some are the called an ionic liquid ferrofluid,” King says, be useful in spectrometry, pharmaceutical size of a school bus, others the size of a explaining that it’s both magnetic and production, and nanofabrication. Michigan smartphone. And more than 9,000 new ionic, a liquid salt. “When we put a magnet Tech has a pending patent for the satellites will be launched in the next 10 underneath a small pool of the ferrofluid, it technology. years. Most small satellites don’t move by turns into a beautiful hedgehog structure themselves, so researchers are looking at of aligned peaks. When we apply a strong Get a look at what’s happening inside our ways to propel them once launched into low- electric field to that array of peaks, each one Ion Space Propulsion Laboratory: Earth orbit. emits an individual micro-jet of ions.” mtu.news/2u1HNZX
One method of micropropulsion involves This year, the Air Force Office of Scientific microscopic, hollow needles that use Research (AFOSR) awarded King a second electricity to spray thin jets of fluid, pushing contract to continue researching the physics the spacecraft in the opposite direction. But of ferrofluids. “Instead of modeling a single peak, the needles are intricate, expensive, and we’ll scale it up and model multiple peaks.” easily destroyed.
10 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2017 ZEN MASTER
DEFEND. PROTECT. SECURE. MICHIGAN TECH’S NEW MASTER’S IN CYBERSECURITY PROGRAM “Cybersecurity is both a research problem engineering department, and our School when he started to think about pursuing and an education problem,” says Jean of Technology joined forces to provide a a master’s degree. “The company I was Mayo, associate professor and graduate foundation in information confidentiality, working for was going to transfer me out program director, computer science, integrity, and availability across disciplines. of the country. My academic advisor told Michigan Tech. This gives our students exciting education me about this new option, and I decided and research opportunities,” says Min Song, to pursue it. I’m using my electrical Attacks on computer systems are new, Dave House professor and chair, Department engineering background to focus on innovative, and fast. Michigan Tech is of Computer Science, Michigan Tech. industrial control system security.” helping create a workforce ready for the challenge. Students choose from one of three Olson, one of the first students to enter the specialized tracks: Trusted Software program, aims to graduate in 2018. “It’s nice Launched in 2016, Michigan Tech’s master’s Engineering, Critical Infrastructure to be back ‘home’ at Michigan Tech, and I’m degree in cybersecurity was the first Protection, and Network Security excited about where my new career will graduate program of its kind in Michigan. Management. take me.” Other schools are catching on, but our program is still unique. The program is also available as an Know someone who might be interested? accelerated master’s degree (bachelor’s and Get the details and apply for free: “Our MS in cybersecurity is special master’s degree in five years). mtu.edu/gradschool/programs/degrees/ because of the combinations of learning cybersecurity environments. Our computer science Electrical engineer Ryan Olson ‘14 was department, the electrical and computer working for an oilfield service company
2017 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 1 1 Michigan Tech’s Visual and Performing Arts No (VPA) alumni are in the spotlight—and behind it. They bring audiobook Business characters and Marvel Comics superheroes to life. They’re aspiring Like stuntwomen, and international ambassadors creating soundscapes for studios, stadiums, and world-renowned concert SHOW venues.
In St. Petersburg, Florida, Paige Borel is training: aerial arts classes, gymnastics, dance classes, and intensive workouts. “I’m passionate about acting and stunt work, and I’m planning to attend and BUSINESS graduate from a stunt school in the next year,” says Borel, a lifelong dancer who received her BA in Theatre and Electronic Media Performance in 2014. “I always knew that I wanted to have a career in the performing arts industry. When I enrolled at Tech I was a business major.” But the night before classes began her junior year, Borel spontaneously added VPA courses. By the end of the week she’d switched majors. Her favorite classes at Michigan Tech were scene studies and performer flying. “Learning how to fly, flip, and perform in harnesses paved the way for me to expand into becoming a stuntwoman.”
“ Learning how to fly, flip, and perform in harnesses paved the way for me to expand into becoming a stuntwoman.” –Paige Borel ’14
12 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2017 Somewhere in the US, Tyler Harry ’15 is on tour with Spiderman. An assistant performance rigger with Feld Entertainment’s Marvel Universe Live: Age No People of Heroes, Harry’s the man who makes the superhero fly. He’s been part of the Like Show People Marvel crew since August 2016. “It’s my job to make sure everything is safe to use, because at the end of the day I’m going No matter where they are, VPA to have someone’s life in my hands. We grads credit faculty that worked had a little over two months of building alongside them—and leveraged this show in the shop, which is in Florida, solid career and alumni networks— and started touring June 12. We work our to open industry doors. Case way from the west to east coast the next in point: faculty and alumni are two years. I love my job. Not only do I get strengthening Michigan Tech’s to work in the field I am most interested in Cirque De Soleil connection. and travel all around the world—I get to fly Jason Scott ’17, who completed super heroes! Who else can say that? One Feld Entertainment/Marvel bachelor’s degrees in both theatre of my favorite moments during a show: and entertainment technology one of my cues was and mechanical engineering, was to fly Spiderman on a the first VPA student to intern line; he swings over the with Cirque, in summer 2015, says audience. There was professor Mary Carol Friedrich, this little boy dressed I love my job. Not only do theatre and entertainment “ technology program director. up as Spiderman who I get to work in the field jumped out of his In summer 2016, two more VPA seat and reached up I am most interested in students also interned with Cirque. to wave to the real and travel all around the “Cirque normally receives 400 Spiderman. This little world—I get to fly super boy was jumping up and applications from all over the down and grabbing his heroes!” country, and only interview 40 mom. I never realized –Tyler Harry ’15 people for 26 slots, so it ’s rare for until then how much I any university to provide more enjoy seeing people so than one intern, much less three,” excited and so into the says Friedrich. “We’ve had several show I am working on.” subsequent conversations with Cirque at the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) annual conference, discussing our program and what we can do to continue to enhance the student experience here to make it advantageous for their future careers.”
Photo by Travis Maynard
2017 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 1 3 In L’Anse, Michigan, Dollcie Mueller fits in a recording session for her fourth audiobook while her six-month- old daughter sleeps. Mueller, BA Theatre Archaeology Grad and Electronic Media Performance ’16, works from home in a sound-treated closet. “Me Is In On The Act ‘in action’ consists of reading the book, rereading it a chapter at a time, recording Industrial heritage and archaeology graduate that chapter, and then spending an hour or Marc Henshaw ’07 ’14 parlayed a passion for his so editing on the computer before I submit major into a show business gig. Henshaw, a 2007 it for the author to listen to. I’d like to undergraduate who went on to earn his PhD in upgrade to a whisper room (an independent, industrial archaeology from Tech (he earned his essentially noise-canceling room) but those master’s in anthropology from Western Michigan cost thousands of dollars, So right now University), became an onscreen consultant for the I’m making do with quilts, carpeting, and National Geographic television show Diggers right foam padding attached to the walls,” she out of school. explains. “I have my mic hanging over a heavy-duty music stand, running an XLR “I graduated in August 2014 and by the end of the cable to my preamp in the main room. It’s month I was with the film crew,” says Henshaw, a nice setup. I just pull up Reaper [a digital onscreen consultant for the 10 episodes of the audio production app] on the computer, show’s fourth season. click ‘Record,’ and take a couple steps to the closet where I can start reading.” The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based firm Michael Baker International called him after it was hired as To read more about VPA graduates in consultant for Diggers, which like other shows in the and behind the spotlight, check out our metal-detecting, dig-it-up reality TV genre, faced digital magazine at mtu.edu/magazine/ growing backlash concerning ethical practices. showbusiness. Henshaw had been following the controversy. “They showed all manner of horrible looting, from the use of backhoes to monetizing the artifacts. I wrote a scathing blog post denouncing these shows and worked with my local advocational archaeological societies in letter-writing campaigns. The Society for American Archaeology (SAA) and the Society for Historical Archaeology (SHA) also began an aggressive campaign to have these shows pulled off the air,” he says.
In response, the shows’ producers partnered with the SAA and SHA to review every episode before it aired and to remove the monetization of the artifacts. Baker wanted someone with a high ethical standard who wasn’t afraid to be a stickler for regulations, recording of finds, and treatment of the artifacts. He chose Henshaw.
“The show had its detractors, even after I was on,” says Henshaw, who continued working with Michael Baker International into 2017, when he helped open a Detroit branch of the company. Currently he’s focused on publishing the research he conducted at Michigan Tech and his archaeology blog, archaeologydude.com.
14 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2017 CAUSE- DRIVEN
Environmental engineer Luke Barrett ‘13 (front row, far left) works to make potable water readily and affordably available to remote LIFE communities in Madagascar.
anontsika means “our water” in Malagasy, the primary native language spoken in the Risland nation of Madagascar. And water—safe, drinkable water—for the people of Madagascar has become Luke Barrett’s life’s work.
Barrett, a Michigan Tech Peace Corps Master’s International (PCMI) program alumnus who received his MS in Environmental Engineering in 2013, is the founder of Ranontsika, a non- governmental organization (NGO) that builds small water production plants to treat and deliver safe drinking water to communities in rural and urban Madagascar.
2017 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 1 5 Through his work with NGOs, Barrett has helped create numerous water stations throughout Madagascar, like the one pictured above in the town of Soanierana Ivongo in the Analanjirofo region.
Located in the Indian Ocean off the “It’s drinking water in the context of Engineering a quality product as well as southeast coast of Africa, Madagascar engineering and design, business and making sure it can be implemented in a presents a plethora of problems for international development that really sustainable fashion is something that keeps environmental engineers like Barrett, who interests me,” Barrett explains. So he joined me interested in the work.” would make potable water readily and a French NGO called 1001fontaines, whose affordably available. Believed to have split goal is to bring safe drinking water to 1 What does the future hold for Luke Barrett? off from the Indian peninsula some 88 million people by 2020. As 1001fontaines’ At least five more years in Madagascar, million years ago, the entire eastern coast Madagascar project manager, he founded perfecting and documenting what he calls an of the fourth largest island in the world is Ranontsika to implement 18 new water “operator-friendly, modular technology and ridged by a steep, rocky slope. The rest of stations—micro water treatment plants run service model that can be scaled elsewhere.” the island ranges from tropical rainforests by locally recruited entrepreneurs. “Kind of He wants to stay engaged with the details to dry, desert-like shrublands, to mangrove a franchise model,” Barrett calls it. So far of the work. “I guess that means developing swamps. Not the most hospitable terrain for the NGO has completed 11 stations. They as a research and development professional. people or for engineering projects. aim to complete the other seven by At least that’s one track. The other track is to mid-2018. build a small cabin on a river somewhere and “There’s a lack of reliable infrastructure go live quietly.” in the urban areas, a lot of poverty, and “We then plan to spend about a year going about 70 percent of the people live in back and looking at the details of how Based on Barrett’s work so far, track two may small villages and towns with limited the stations work, tweaking the technical, be appealing, but it’s much less likely. accessibility,” says Barrett. managerial, and business aspects,” Barrett says. He’s facing other challenges, too: electricity that goes off without warning, internet He’s particularly engaged with service that grinds to a halt, government 1001fontaines’ service model. “They bureaucracy that slows things down to a not only focus on water quality, but on crawl. developing a viable business model for delivering it to the beneficiary. Barrett’s interest in drinking water began in a lab, where he hoped to develop a natural coagulant for water treatment. That project “It’s drinking water in the context didn’t pan out, and after his Peace Corps service in Madagascar, he took a job with of engineering and design, business BushProof, a humanitarian enterprise that specializes in developing custom water and international development supply technologies for remote regions. that really interests me.” There, his attention turned to water quality and analysis.
16 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2017 t was the honeymoon of a lifetime. Jim that number had grown to 131, and their BCP is constantly seeking sponsors for and Jan Tanis traversed the slopes of Mount education ranged from primary through students: children like Linnet, who loves Kilimanjaro, crossed Tanzania on safari, secondary school, vocational training, and science and wants to be a midwife. She Iand finished their journey by visiting the university courses. has six brothers, only one of whom attends mountain gorillas in Bwindi National Park in school. She will graduate from primary school southwestern Uganda. A Michigan Tech alumnus with a BS in this December (2017). But her education Geological Engineering and an MS in will stop there, Jim says, unless a sponsor is At least they thought they were finished. Geophysics, Jim Tanis ’57 ’58 is a retired oil found. While they were in Bwindi, they met Brian, company exploration geophysicist who spent a child of clear promise whose access to 21 years with ConocoPhilips Worldwide The charity has also undertaken a number education was virtually non-existent. Their and eight years with Shell Oil. He has lived of school improvement projects, such as hearts were touched; they couldn’t get Brian in six countries and traveled extensively in stabilizing the water and power on the out of their minds. developing regions. His life and work have campus. Currently they are trying to raise given him a deep understanding of cultural $70,000 for an e-Library, to provide internet For a year, they sponsored the boy in diversity and the value of education in lifting connectivity for research. The library will have secondary school in Rukungiri, a rural town people out of poverty and despair. study space for 140 students, open to the not far from Bwindi. He has since gone on community. “It will be the first such facility to law school, where he is studying human Jim is president of the BCP board of in the district, and it’s warmly anticipated by rights law with the help of another sponsor. directors, which is made up primarily of all,” the Tanises say. But there were so many more children in US and Ugandan volunteers, and Jan is Bwindi, in a village called Buhoma. Public its treasurer. Jan is a retired controller for “The challenge keeps us actively engaged schools in Uganda are few and far between, First Martin Corporation who has worked in helping a part of the world that so greatly and while there is some government support in commercial real estate development and appreciates the time and effort it takes to for secondary schools, they are not free, so management and served on a planning and educate and support their children,” he says. the children in poor, remote areas like Bwindi zoning commission. Her role as treasurer is “We saw a need and are trying to fill it.” make do with spotty education, if that. a key one: ensuring that the nonprofit stays in compliance with 501c3 regulations. She To sponsor a child, visit: So in 2010, the Tanises established a charity also is the link between the sponsors and bwindicommunityprogram.org/payment/ called the Bwindi Community Program students in the program, communicating with index.html (BCP), at its heart, a primary school called the students, reporting on their academic Bwindi Watoto. (Watoto means children progress to sponsors, and coordinating the To donate in some other way to Bwindi in Swahili). They sought sponsors for care of students with support on the ground Community Program, go to: children to attend the school. The first year, in Uganda. bwindicommunityprogram.org/other/ there were 20 sponsored children. By 2015, donations.html
“The challenge keeps us actively engaged in helping a part of the world that so greatly appreciates the time and effort it takes to educate and support their children.”
Jim and Jan Tanis sponsored Brian throughout secondary school in Rukungiri, a remote town in Uganda. He is now a law student in Kampala, the country’s capital city. He focuses his studies on human rights.
2017 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 1 7 iving Life Without Labels. a riding program, but wouldn’t sport riding. We teach them to push mower and put them to That’s the motto of Sanna allow disabled girls to ride. ride and to groom and saddle a work. And 95 percent of them Roling’s Dream Catcher Stables, Roling was incensed. “Of course horse.” straighten their lives out.” an all-volunteer public charity these girls can ride horses,” she in Houston, Texas, that teaches insisted. She took disabled Girl The stable also works with Dream Catcher Stables has disabled and at-risk youth how Scouts to the horse camp and youth ordered by the court to been named a GuideStar to ride horses. demonstrated that they could do community service. “These Platinum Seal Charity—the ride. She went on to head a are troubled kids,” Roling says nonprofit evaluation program’s Roling, a Michigan Tech alumna special ed riding program at the frankly. “They come thinking highest ranking. Great Lwho earned a BS in Biological San Jacinto Girl Scout Camp. they are going to get to ride NonProfits, another charity Sciences in 1967, fell in love with horses. I hand them a rake or assessment organization, ranked horses while she was growing Roling also brought a special ed a shovel or an old-fashioned it a Top Rated Charity in 2016 up in Wheaton, Illinois—but program to the Spring, Texas, she never owned one. Instead, Independent School District. she earned her Girl Scout She taught academics through horsemanship badge and went horse language: math meant to work at a nearby stable in measuring food for horses, exchange for riding lessons. English involved horse and “I spent my summers at the riding terminology. “And it stable,” she recalls. worked” she says. “But we had no horses.” So the program Now her Dream Catcher Stables shut down. has nine horses—including thoroughbreds, cutting horses, In 1987, the Special Olympics dressage horses, and a mutt Texas Area 4 asked her to bring named Smut—all donated and riding to the games. She served used in its therapeutic riding as equestrian event director for program. Volunteers—134 seven years and world games of them—teach people with equestrian coach for the 1995 disabilities to ride and care Special Olympics. for horses, while helping their families navigate their Inspired by the impact she challenging lives. These saw that horseback riding had volunteers contributed 4,174 on Special Olympics athletes, hours during 2016. By mid-2017, Roling established a riding 48 youth had already received program in the Houston area, riding lessons. but internal politics prevailed, and it did not work out. In Running an operation like August 1999, Roling tried again, Dream Catcher wasn’t always incorporating Dream Catcher part of the plan. Roling Stables. After two struggling initially wanted to become a years, she obtained a lease veterinarian before majoring in on 98 acres of raw land where biology at Michigan Tech. She Dream Catcher Stables now then headed to the University stands, inside the city limits of of Massachusetts to work on her Houston. The land has since master’s degree in chemistry. been sold to an investor who is She met her husband, Paul, permitting Roling to keep her there, then raised two children stables there until he sells the before getting certified as a property. special education teacher in Texas. The work Dream Catcher does is not “therapy,” Roling And Roling never stopped stresses. “I have no medical or riding. She learned that the San therapeutic training. What we Jacinto Girl Scout Council had offer is recreation/education/
18 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2017 and 2017. The Michigan Tech Alumni Association recognized Roling with its Humanitarian Award this year.
But Roling is far from satisfied. She’s launched a capital campaign to buy a permanent home with an indoor arena and a classroom, and she has more plans: become accredited by the Certified Horsemanship Association and Path International, establish an endowment fund, start a weekday program (the riding is now only on weekends), and increase the number of volunteers to serve more people.
Roling sums up her passion in Dream Catcher Stables’ mission: “to provide a place where people with disabilities can be equal, capable and successful, growing to their maximum potential through interaction with horses in a positive environment.” HURRICANE HARVEY
Meet some of the kids whose On August 25, Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas lives have been changed by as a Category 4 storm. The next day, the hurricane flooded Houston, including Sanna Roling’s Dream Dream Catcher Stables. Catcher Stables.
“Harvey challenged our horses,” says Roling. “The waters rose waist deep at the entrance. People had to wade in to feed the horses, but they took care of them every day of the hurricane. Their pasture had high ground, and their stalls protected them from the rain. Our hay container took on a bit of water, damaging approximately 50 bales of hay. We’ve stopped the leak and more hay is on order. Our tack room took on at least two inches of water.”
Blake had some Dream Catcher’s annual fundraiser had to be canceled Draylon first came behavioral issues because LoneStar College Kingwood—also flooded to Sanna’s stables when he arrived out by Harvey—had to occupy the venue. Roling is now as an elementary at Dream Catcher Gracie needs hosting a different kind of fundraiser, “10 for 10.” Each school student in a Stables. Within a structure and clearly volunteer and athlete family is being asked to donate wheelchair. Today he year, he became an defined goals to $10 and ask 10 of their friends or businesses they rides horses—and independent rider. avoid seizures patronize to do the same. walks. “His parents Next came walking and process ideas swear that he walks and trotting. Now properly. Her horse- “Our property floods every time it rains, so we really because he rode our he’s working toward oriented mother must move,” Roling says. Higher land has been located, horses,” Roling says. a lope. And he has leads the girl around and Dream Catcher Stables is working on raising money been inducted into on her horse, but to purchase it. his school’s National Gracie’s personal Junior Honor Society goal is to ride To donate to Dream Catcher Stables: two years in a row. independently. paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/1207722
2017 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 1 9 THE MICHIGAN TECH GRADUATE
2045In 2045, automation is king. Cars are not only self-driving, they’re getting ready to take flight. The US population is nearing 400 million, and the next evolution in urban renewal is underway. Technological advances are a daily occurrence, and robotization has changed the face of production and the workforce.
Isaac Matthews, ‘45 Major: Sustainability Birthday: July 22, 2023 Age: 22 From: Detroit, MI
Camila Romero, ‘45 Major Biomedical Engineering Birthday: March 26, 2023 Age: 22 From: Salt Lake City, UT
20 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2017 Meet Camila Romero and Isaac Matthews. They are “You should fix your hat, Isaac,” she says with a smile. Isaac shrugs his shoulders, and Camila knows what he’s about among the students preparing to graduate as part of to say next. Michigan Tech’s class of 2045. Michigan Tech is 160 years old; the Portage Lake Lift Bridge is 86. Camila Camila and Isaac met freshman year in their Global Issues and Isaac were born in 2023, just six years from now. class. The two were paired together in a month-long exercise to formulate and address a sustainable development problem. (Their parents may even be members of Michigan The project was part of a collaboration between Michigan Tech
Tech’s 2017-18 entering class.) These students have and a university in India, where first-year students were enrolled had an educational experience very different from that in a similar class. Along with their counterparts overseas, of today’s students. But they are uniquely prepared to Camila and Isaac did a comparative study of the efficiency of microgrids in a rural section of the Upper Peninsula with a rural tackle the issues facing their generation. village in India. Portrait of 2045: The portion of Michigan Tech’s Strategic Plan that contemplates the University’s existence several decades The project would influence their next four years at into the future. Some of these characteristics are captured Michigan Tech. in figures—target numbers for enrollment, for diversity, for endowment. Other characteristics are harder to quantify: “You hear a lot of people saying we won’t need classrooms (in globally literate graduates with strong communication the future educational setting). But research shows learning is a skills; a transformational undergraduate experience in a very social activity. We learn from bouncing ideas off each other residential learning environment; a university culture that is and arguing with each other. We learn from other points of entrepreneurial, efficient, service-oriented, view. There still needs to be someone who and sustainable. facilitates that learning and pushes people to think outside the box, who pushes people But a portrait is not supposed to be a “You hear a lot to see issues from multiple perspectives. detailed description; it’s a likeness—open Teachers and professors aren’t going away, to individual interpretation and context. of people saying but their role may be different.” Here, we capture various versions of the we won’t need Portrait of 2045, through the eyes of some –Shari Stockero, Director of Teacher of the University’s thought leaders, and in classrooms (in the Education, Cognitive and Learning Sciences the creation of two fictional members of the class of 2045. future educational Their Global Issues professor gave them A’s for what she called preliminary work. “If you “We need to make sure we’re positioned to setting). But research want to continue with this project,” she said, give students the skills they need to solve “we can meet with the Academic Innovation problems. Part of that comes from training shows learning is a department to modify your curriculum.” in an academic discipline. In addition, there are a lot of things students need that aren’t very social activity.” After a couple hours of in-depth discussion taught in courses. Things like interpersonal on the back deck of the Downtowner, skills, social engagement and habits of looking out on the Keweenaw Waterway, mind: problem solving, creativity, innovation, critical thinking, Camila decided to stick with her original plan to major in entrepreneurship.” biomedical engineering. As much as she enjoyed her microgrid experience, her true passion lay elsewhere. Plus, a conversation –Jacqueline Huntoon, Provost and Vice President for with one of her team members in India had sparked an idea for Academic Affairs a technology that would help heal wounds faster.
The sun shines brightly on a May morning in 2045. Overhead, Isaac, on the other hand, had started his first year of camera drones zip back and forth, jockeying for position above college with far less career certainty than Camila. Hoping the line of graduating seniors. Camila Romero looks around at to find a profession that would be spared from death-by- her peers, excited for the future, but a little apprehensive, too. automation, he’d been on the “general” track in Michigan In front of her, another student chats with his mother’s image on Tech’s sustainability program. Now that he’d discovered his hologram watch. how sustainable energy systems could help underserved communities, his path was coming into sharp focus. “Camila!” someone shouts. She turns toward the voice and sees her best friend, Isaac Matthews, jogging over, his mortarboard askew.
2017 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2 1 The Michigan Tech of 2045 will continue to attract the nation’s brightest minds to Innovation Shore thanks to its interdisciplinary approach and commitment to technologies and innovations that have immediate, real-world applications.
“There are many paths to the same route. of industrial revolutions. Each innovation— [Students] understand learning as a social railroads and the steam engine; electricity process. It’s absolutely ridiculous that we and the assembly line; computers, personal would put barriers in their way in terms computers, and the of access to information or people who internet—demanded can help them learn. We impose artificial more highly skilled deadlines on students and they smell that. workers than the last. “[Students] understand The system has to be more honest and flexible about that.” We are now, according learning as a social to Schwab, at the dawn – Mike Meyer, Director of the William G. of a fourth industrial process. It’s absolutely Jackson Center for Teaching and Learning revolution (hence the title of his book). ridiculous that we The world Camila and Isaac have inherited is This revolution is would put barriers in vastly different from the one we know today. characterized not only Every technology they work with, improve by smart, connected their way in terms of upon, or develop as first-year students will machines and systems, be out of date by the time they reach their but also by a wide- access to information fourth or fifth year. ranging scope of breakthroughs. “It is or people who can In his introduction to The Fourth Industrial the fusion of these Revolution, Klaus Schwab, founder of the technologies,” he help them learn.” World Economic Forum, describes the pace argues, “and their of profound shifts in the ways humans live. interaction across the Around 10,000 years ago, he notes, the first physical, digital and biological domains shift occurred when people transitioned that make the fourth industrial revolution from foraging to farming. Food production fundamentally different from previous slowly improved, leading to larger human revolutions.” settlements, urbanization, and cities. While thousands of years passed between But thousands of years passed before the the first revolution and the second, and next major shift would occur. It was not until hundreds of years between the second the second half of the 18th century that and third, the third and fourth revolutions mechanical inventions gave birth to a series were separated by mere decades. Today,
22 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2017 technologies are upgraded, or rendered With her experience in both research and “The machines are coming for the high- obsolete, on a basis that is both rapid and augmented intelligence, Camila entered wage, high-skill jobs as well,” warns Silicon gaining speed. Career Fair with high hopes. Valley entrepreneur Martin Ford in his book Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat “A new approach we’re exploring with the “We need to understand fundamental of a Jobless Future. Indeed, for at least a undergraduate curriculum gives students a biological pathways. Can we understand decade, thought leaders have been grappling more hands-on experience. The traditional enough of [the fundamentals] to solve with the possibility of a world in which robots engineering education is based on lectures, problems? We’re at the baby steps. I think are doing many of the jobs humans perform but research suggests that students learn and I hope our curriculum will shift from today. better when they can get involved in practice rote memorization to hands-on problem activities centered on the learning material. solving. We may (create) a custom curriculum Can Michigan Tech graduate a class of 2045 Instead of having labs, we have developed (for each student). Rather than looking at that’s automation proof? practice sessions. Also, the projects are skills and knowledge linearly, students will open-ended. That is, there is no definite specialize instead. As technology outpaces The answer is a qualified yes—if not right or wrong way to solve the problems we the way we teach, our teaching is going to automation proof, then definitely automation give them. They learn to use engineering have to catch up. There are already a huge resistant. tools to come up with a solution that meets number of students in this department the given requirements. We’re asking them that are heavily involved in undergraduate In December 2016, the Executive Office to interact with teammates, be creative, and research. I have had about 65 undergrads of the President released a report entitled to use critical thinking to realize their design. work in my lab, so they can learn this is how “Artificial Intelligence, Automation, and the The employers like it. They believe the science is really done. What we all need to Economy.” Noting that artificial intelligence engineers they hire out of Michigan Tech are keep in mind is that we’re doing the best we (AI) will likely change our notion of production prepared to hit the ground running and think can with our skills and knowledge now. It’s a and work in a fundamental way, the White for themselves.” learning process. We need to be receptive to House Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) new information and ideas.” predicted that jobs requiring manual dexterity, –Gregory Odegard, Richard and Elizabeth creativity, social interactions and intelligence, Henes Professor of Computational –Megan Frost, Associate Professor, and general knowledge would thrive. The Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering– Biomedical Engineering CEA identified four employment categories Engineering Mechanics that might experience direct AI-driven growth in the future: engagement, development, As part of her curriculum design, Camila supervision, and response to paradigm shifts. joined a first-year Enterprise team who lived together in one of the sustainable tiny house communities scattered about campus. While she worked on a biosensor project to help her peers achieve more and better sleep The Four Cs of despite the pressures of college, her team members developed an ultra-light material 21st-Century in which sleep sensors were embedded for their peers to curl up in at night. They called Learning: the special hammocks Catnap Cocoons. In 2002, a coalition of Collaboration Communication educators, policymakers, Throughout her second and third years, and business professionals Camila worked on several research projects, formed a non-profit diversifying her skill set and knowledge organization called the Partnership for 21st Century base for a market that had seen nothing but Learning (P21). P21 builds rapid change for the past two decades. She collaborative partnerships had been primary research assistant to the among business, community, professor who developed biosensors that education, and government could be inserted painlessly under the skin leaders so that “all learners acquire the knowledge and to monitor various health conditions. She Creativity Critical Thinking skills they need to thrive had worked with her peers and research in a world where change is professors to improve SecondSkin, the constant and learning never wound-healing prosthetic epidermis stops.” P21 identified the developed to dramatically reduce healing Four Cs of 21st Century Learning as critical to time for diabetics. preparing students for the future. (p21.org)
2017 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2 3 Like Camila, Isaac’s curriculum design Executive Office of the President: December 2016 included Enterprise. Student-connections officers in the Academic Innovation Artificial Intelligence, Automation, department introduced him to students from computer and electrical engineering, and the Economy materials science and engineering, and natural resources management who were ENGAGEMENT interested in improving microgrid technology (OR AUGMENTED INTELLIGENCE) and efficiency in poor, rural areas. They Demands for labor will likely increase the most, the CEA collaborated with students in India, whom predicted, in areas where humans “complement AI- Isaac had met through the connections he automation technologies.” For instance, AI technology made his first year. might improve detection of cancer or other diseases, but it can’t talk with patients about treatment options or Mentored by Professor Abboud, the guide them through treatment plans. Advanced Microgrids Enterprise team spent DEVELOPMENT a year in practice sessions before creating “To a certain extent . . . AI is only as good as the data prototypes, the parts for many of which behind it,” the CEA said, “so there will likely be increased were printed on their demand for jobs in generating, collecting, and managing personal 3-D printers. relevant data to feed into AI training.” This shows the Their work addressed need for employees like Isaac, who have a background in not only engineering “Having trained social sciences or liberal arts. Social complexity and moral dilemmas require the knowledge of those who can, for and efficiency, but example, conduct ethical evaluations. sustainability and and worked with policy issues. At engineers, the SUPERVISION the start of their Everything related to monitoring, licensing, and repairing junior year, Isaac best ones are the AI. Think autonomous vehicles. Humans will likely still need and another team to register and test the cars to “ensure safety and quality controls on the road,” says the CEA. member participated ones that pull from in the Entrepreneur RESPONSE TO PARADIGM SHIFTS Incubator program in the analytical and The report describes how technological innovation the School of Business surrounding AI could reshape features of our built and Economics, with creative.” environment. Think again of self-driving vehicles. Today’s the goal to launch a traffic laws and infrastructure were designed with human business by 2045. drivers in mind. How will that change once computers are behind the wheel? “Sustainability is a key underpinning for leadership. I would hope sustainability is integrated into all disciplines in a much “Having trained and worked with engineers, greater extent. We need to make better the best are the ones that can pull from decisions about the technologies we develop. the analytical and creative. Research is the The solutions might look very different if search for knowledge. It happens on two we expand our view to include economic levels. One, to understand the fundamental impacts, environmental impacts, and societal physics that’s there—the chemical processes, impacts. Why waste money on something that the biological reactions, all of it. There’s also won’t benefit people in the end?” the interactions beyond it, how it’s applied. The application of engineering knowledge – David Shonnard, Professor of Chemical will be so critical in 2045—with the sheer Engineering and Richard and Bonnie magnitude of human influence on this Robbins Chair in Sustainable Use of planet, we will either willingly or unwillingly Materials be subjected to the laws of nature. That will depend heavily on whether we truly embrace Sustainability. In simple terms, it’s the a sustainability mindset.” ability to maintain something at a certain rate or level. According to the UN –Adrienne Minerick ’98, Associate Dean for World Commission on Environment and Research and Innovation and Professor of Development, sustainable development is Chemical Engineering
24 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2017 “development that meets the needs of the On a May morning in 2045, Camila Romero headed for a research position at a national present without compromising the ability and Isaac Matthews stand among the lab outside Washington, DC. Her work of future generations to meet their own members of Michigan Tech’s graduating as a research assistant had paid off—she needs.” For sustainable development to be class. Camila smiles at her best friend and tells had been hired to research wearable gene achieved, the Commission says, it will be him to fix his slightly askew mortarboard, but therapy devices for infants with congenital critical to build on three pillars: economic he shrugs his shoulders and makes a joke heart defects. growth, social inclusion, and environmental instead. protection. Camila and Isaac came to Michigan Tech because they believe in the power of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math to solve complex problems
The United Nations: Effective January 1, 2016 when applied in tandem. They believe in thoughtful introduction of technologies 17 Sustainable Development Goals that support, rather than hinder, human productivity and job growth. They believe in 1. No poverty 12. Responsible consumption scaling up technologies to aid people in the 2. Zero hunger and production developing world. Sustainability is core to their experience, and conducting life-cycle 3. Good health and well-being 13. Climate action analysis of technologies to determine the 4. Quality education 14. Life below the water effects on the environment and society are 5. Gender equality 15. Life on land integrated into the work they do. 6. Clean water and sanitation 16. Peace, justice, and strong 7. Affordable and clean energy institutions From inside the arena comes the sound of the processional music, signaling to the 8. Decent work and economic 17. Partnerships for the goals waiting students that the time has come to growth receive their degrees. Isaac and Camila smile 9. Industry, innovation, and at each other, a little nervous, but mostly infrastructure jubilant. Their futures—and our planet’s 10. Reduced inequalities future—are waiting. 11. Sustainable cities and communities
“When I first came here, I came from a “Eh. I run my own business now. I can do large, well-known research university that what I want.” prided itself on doing fundamental research. Camila laughs. For a The types of problems moment, she allows we solved were often “At Michigan Tech, herself to get lost in esoteric. We developed a memory of her first elegant solutions to what struck me when week on campus at those problems, but the Michigan Tech. She likelihood those solutions I first arrived was that smiles nostalgically would be implemented in when she remembers our lifetimes was small. At the people here were meeting Isaac, who like Michigan Tech, what struck her had chosen to attend me when I first arrived creating solutions to Michigan Tech because of was that the people here real problems that the University’s focus on were creating solutions to integrated sustainability real problems that could could be implemented and socially aware be implemented almost research. immediately.” almost immediately.” Now he was starting his –Jacqueline Huntoon, own business with Provost and Vice President collaborators around the for Academic Affairs world, and she was
2017 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2 5 TRAVELING
THROUGH The Keweenaw Time Traveler takes people for a ride through the peninsula’s TIME— history, and encourages them to add their own DIGITALLY stories, too.
26 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2017 Have you ever wondered Scarlett, assistant professor of history, who lived in your house conducted a series of design charrettes What the Time Traveler around the community to test beta versions before you? Not the people of the Time Traveler’s builder apps, the Means to the Keweenaw you bought it from, but the participatory GIS interfaces that allow National Historic Park people to input information into the Time people who built it more Traveler. than 100 years ago? Were The Time Traveler they Finnish or German Robert Pastel, associate professor of computer science and affiliated associate “is a great way to or Cornish? Did they work professor of cognitive and learning connect students with for the mine, or were they sciences, collaborates on the project with Lafreniere and Scarlett. Lafreniere notes community and to build shopkeepers? that Pastel’s students assisted with the viable GIS skills.” project by testing the Time Traveler in
What did people do during winter of 1978, various computer science courses. Those when 355 inches of snow fell, and the roads students also helped during meetings with —Wendy Davis were snowed in for days at a time? community groups to improve the app’s interactive design. Superintendent, Did the mine bosses like your great-great- Keweenaw National grandfather, or did they think he was a bit too ornery? Historic Park
The Keweenaw Time Traveler enables us to answer these questions, to travel through time, and to explore the Keweenaw Peninsula with the click of a mouse.
A Digital Time Machine The Keweenaw Time Traveler (its official name is the Copper Country “Just like sitting around the Historical Spatial Data Infrastructure) is an online, map-based application cofee shop talking about that uses maps, historical old times, we’re providing documents, US Census data, and a way for people to do that personal narratives to create a database about the changes that the in a digital space,” says Don natural, social, industrial, and built Lafreniere, assistant professor environments have undergone from 1850 to present. Using participatory of geography and GIS, and Geographic Information Systems director of the Historical (GIS), the project builds a historical record of the Copper Country that is Environments Spatial Analytics interactive and constantly evolving. Lab and the Geospatial Research Core Facility. The project is supported in part by a three-year, $259,882 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. But ongoing participation comes from community members interacting with the Time Traveler.
Community participation in telling the story of the Keweenaw has shaped the project from the very beginning. Don Lafreniere, assistant professor of geography and GIS, and Sarah Fayen
2017 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2 7 Currently there are four ways people Let’s find it.’ We can then zoom in to a as one that focuses on memories from can add information. The document- familiar place,” Scarlett says. “People the winter of 1978–79, or a call to alumni building-materials-app inserts have a better experience when they feel to contribute favorite memories from information about a construction oriented with the maps to a place that their college years in specific buildings material a building is made from—brick, they know. When they get to a place on campus. wood, stone, etc.— while the document- “I think it’d be fun to do one in the building-use app inserts depths of winter this year around Winter information about how “We’re characterizing the app Carnival,” Lafreniere says. “What if we buildings have been did one about the hockey championship used through time. as a place where people can from last winter? We want to really The transcribing-maps talk about old times—people emphasize this doesn’t have to only be app allows users to who are here can do that with about really old stuff.” transcribe handwritten people who are not here,” says notes on old maps Just the Beginning computer algorithms Sarah Fayen Scarlett, assistant can’t read. The explore History is made every day; each of us app allows people to professor of history. “There are participates in the construction of our view the historical data so many people throughout the community’s history. The Time Traveler is another way to contribute to the on the map while also country and even farther afeld contributing information historical record of the Keweenaw at the same time. who have ties to the Keweenaw Peninsula. Eventually, the explore who aren’t necessarily here. app will be the primary “This is the very beginning. We are just way to input data into There’s a lot of memory out getting data in,” Scarlett says. “This the Time Traveler. there.” is intended to have a long life and to keep growing dramatically and in ways To prevent inaccurate people want to see it happen. We data—to err is human, want it to be a tool that people in the after all—the apps use a consensus or building that’s familiar, we can show community can use to record what they model that requires three people to them how to look at that building with think is important. There are all kinds of agree on a particular data point before maps from different years, to see how it’s opportunities—limitless.” the information is added to the system. changed through time.” With the transcription component, the Share your story about a favorite place on campus or in the Copper Country. program runs an algorithm and parses Stories of the the text to see if someone typed in the Visit keweenawhistory.com and start same or similar text. Keweenaw—From the Time Traveler. Anywhere in the World “We want to make it fun for people Scarlett and Lafreniere emphasize that so that while they are helping to build the Time Traveler allows people who the Keweenaw Time Traveler, they’re have connections to the Keweenaw but having a good time, and come back and live elsewhere to enter the discussion interact with it in different kinds of ways. about area history and contribute their We’re trying to figure out how to make stories. it the most fun for the most people,” Scarlett says. Keweenaw Time Traveler isn’t meant to only record what happened 100 Through beta testing, the researchers years ago. The researchers say that discovered different age groups seem to while they have a bevy of historical prefer interacting with the Time Traveler information, they also encourage people in different ways. Younger people seem to enter their personal stories from to prefer a game-like environment, in their lifetimes, whether from last year or which inserting information comes from decades ago. Use the explore app to specific tasks prompted by the program. enter a memory about a specific place Other people prefer to navigate to and upload up to three images, whether places of their choosing to add data. photos or files.
“We say, ‘Where do you live? What’s In the future, Lafreniere and Scarlett plan your favorite place in the Keweenaw? to do themed calls for data input, such
28 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2017 Traveling Through Time with the Continental Fire Hall
1883: Constructed for the Houghton Fire Company
1885: First classes of the Michigan Mining School held on the second foor
1880s: Houghton municipal ofces on the second foor, two story brick addition on the north side for more hay and horses
1916: One-story brick addition added on the western side
1974: Fire Department moved to current location on Sharon Avenue; OK Auto Supply opened in the western wing
1978: Michigan Tech bought the building, used it for storage
2010: Sold to Jon Julien and partners to create a dance club
2012: Continental Fire Co. opened
(Timeline from the Daily Mining Gazette magazine published in 2012)
2017 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2 9 GLENN MROZ: LEVEL 5 LEADERSHIP
by Marty Richardson, former chair of the Michigan Technological University Board of Control
30 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2017 2017 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 31 Sound like anybody we know? Yes, Glenn Mroz certainly has exhibited these characteristics as president, and shown exceptional results in the Tank you, Glenn, for your leadership. process.
“During his 15 years of service as in northern Michigan’s rural During Glenn’s tenure as president, president, Dr. Mroz has ensured communities. In addition to his Michigan Tech reached record-breaking that Michigan Technological academic leadership, I applaud enrollment levels for undergraduate, University remains a thriving Dr. Mroz for his commitment graduate, and women students. The University expanded its research university that provides to regional initiatives, such spending to more than $72.5 million— an exceptional educational as MTEC SmartZone’s the highest ever—and correspondingly experience for Michigan’s next collaborative deployment increased the significance, value, and generation of innovators. Dr. throughout the UP and renown of its creative work. Under Glenn’s leadership, Michigan Tech has Mroz understands Michigan promotion of STEM careers for taken a prominent role as steward of Tech’s important role in the Michiganders of all backgrounds. a vital natural resource with the Great economic comeback of our state, Tank you, Glenn, for your Lakes Research Institute—and it’s only as well as smart development leadership.” fitting. As Glenn says, “After all, the Keweenaw Peninsula is right in the middle of Lake Superior—who better —Rick Snyder, Governor of Michigan than Michigan Tech to lead Great Lakes research efforts.”
Bolstered by consistent marketing and branding programs, people know more hen people consider transformative, about Michigan Tech than ever before, and W effective leadership, they often think are taking notice. Forbes says we’re one of larger-than-life, egocentric personalities of the top 25 STEM (science, technology, like a Lee Iacocca or a Jack Welch. engineering, and math) schools in the During my eight-year term on Michigan nation. Our endowment has doubled to Technological University’s Board of Control more than $106.4 million, and with Glenn’s (now the Board of Trustees), I came to guidance, we have achieved fiscal stability understand that the most effective person in and eliminated accumulated debt. Michigan Tech’s presidential chair is, rather, an executive with personal humility and But numbers alone don’t tell the complete intense professional will. story. The man behind the Office of the President has shown time and again that he Leadership guru Jim Collins specified a Level “bleeds Husky blood.” There is no freshman 5 leader—the ultimate level of leadership— who could demonstrate more enthusiasm at to have certain characteristics: a hockey game—I’ve heard Glenn scream himself hoarse. My fellow board member and • Does not rely on charisma current board chair, Terry Woychowski, told • Shy yet fearless, with ferocious resolve me, “Glenn has an amazing and unwavering • A blend of genuine personal humility passion for his university and his students. with intense professional will At every commencement ceremony, we
• Surrounded by the right people witnessed first-hand his heartfelt love for the students and mission of Michigan Tech.” • Looks in the mirror when assessing blame, but out the window when I have also witnessed Glenn’s connection apportioning credit and loyalty to students. He has an apparently • Asks more than tells unlimited capacity to care about each and • Doesn’t talk about self, but about the every one. I sat beside him once at a board organization and especially the meeting as he gave a moving tribute to a contribution of others recent ROTC grad who had just been killed • Shuns public adulation, is never boastful while on military duty in Afghanistan; tears • Sets up successors for even more rolled down Glenn’s cheeks. greatness in the next generation
32 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2017 I’ve heard him vehemently refuse a salary has been standing right beside him, as increase because he felt that the faculty supportive of Michigan Tech as she is of deserved it more. her spouse. The two of them have made an unbeatable Husky duo, and the University He also has a deep connection to alumni. is better because of their significant Terry Woychowski said he always appreciated contributions. I know the extended Michigan when Glenn “would travel to southeastern Tech community wishes them the very best Michigan and meet with alumni engineers as they return to faculty life here at the at General Motors to deliver a State of University. the University address. It helped keep our associates connected and involved. When it came time to field a recruitment team to travel to Houghton,” Terry continued, “we never had a problem. Just the opposite—we would need to turn people away.”
Indeed, Michigan Tech’s career fairs continue Martha (Marty) Kresnak Richardson ’79 joined the to be regularly oversubscribed. Thanks Michigan Technological University Board of Control to Glenn’s leadership, the University has established a Career Fest to accommodate (now the Board of Trustees) in 2005 and served as its chair even more employers. from 2010 to 2012. Richardson and her husband, Jerry, are generous supporters of Michigan Tech and are enjoying The role of president is all consuming; year retirement on their ffy-two-foot trawler, Monarch. after year, Glenn has never really been “off duty.” And during that time, his wife Gail
More Highlights from the Mroz Years
During President Mroz’s tenure, Renewed focus on faculty hiring During Mroz’s time as president, Michigan Tech has conferred increased tenure and tenure-track Michigan Tech has incubated 19,637 degrees (and that number faculty from 295 to 340. Much between two and four start-up will be more than 20,000 by the of this was accelerated by the companies per year. time he steps down). Since 1885, Strategic Faculty Hiring Initiative Michigan Tech has conferred (SFHI) that targeted faculty Te University completed its a total of 73,116 degrees. Tat hires to address university, state, second major capital campaign, means in 13 short years, the Mroz and national priorities around raising $215 million, 108 percent administration has produced 27 sustainability, energy, health, of the original goal. From 2004 percent of all conferred degrees in computing, and materials. to date, Michigan Tech raised the University’s 132-year history. $364.66 million in philanthropic For PhDs specifcally, 874 out of Te University purchased the support. 1,495 have been conferred during Environmental and Emerging the Mroz years—that’s 58 percent. Technologies Division of the Michigan Tech hockey has Altarum Institute and reorganized returned to prominence, winning Since 2005, the average ACT it as the Michigan Tech Research the WCHA in both 2016 and 2017. composite score for incoming Institute (MTRI), giving us a frst-year students has risen from downstate presence in Ann Arbor. 25.1 to 27.2, while the national MTRI, which recently celebrated average has remained fat at 21.1. its tenth anniversary, started with 24 employees and now has close to 60.
2017 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 3 3 wokeLarry to sudden, Stambeck sharp pain on a Jr. September morning in 2016. He shifted around on his extra-large twin bed in East McNair Hall. Ouch. Maybe he had slept funny. Maybe he pulled something. Maybe it would go away on its own? I’ll give it a few days, he decided.
A week went by. The pain persisted.
He felt a couple of lumps, too. The sophomore studying electrical engineering technology Googled his symptoms. Cancer, as it’s known to do, crept to the top of the list.
Larry shrugged it off. Humor helped him express concerns tucked beneath the surface. “I told a few friends about what was going on, what I was experiencing. I remember joking, ‘I probably have cancer, haha!’”
Fall classes had just started. He didn’t want anyone back home in Paw Paw, Michigan, to worry about him, especially not his mother, Cynthia Henderson, who was a 10-hour drive away.
Tenacity Knows
NoBEATING TESTICULAR Bounds: CANCER WITH HELP FROM HUSKIES
34 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2017 Eventually Larry scheduled an appointment to see a Larry’s doctor. oncologist says waiting Blood work, x-rays, a CT scan. Swift or delaying action from a team of up-north healthcare treatment could providers. All jokes aside, Larry, 20, had have killed him. cancer. Testicular cancer. “He saved his And he had to call his mom. own life,” says Dr. Zuhair The Call No One Wants to Get Ghanem. “My instinct was to get him home, to care for him down here,” Cynthia recalls. “I felt stuck.” But Larry was vehement he’d be staying on campus, staying in school, and Huskies Stick Together seeking treatment at Aspirus Keweenaw in In his home-away-from-home, surrounded The facts about Calumet. by a close-knit second family, Larry got testicular cancer: through it, and beat cancer. “I’d come Most commonly affects males “Everyone I encountered—my urologist, back to the dorms after chemo and crash. between the ages of 15 and 35 my oncologist, my nurses—was kind, I was too weak to make it to the dining Usually presents as a nodule or professional, and understanding. I didn’t hall. Friends helped grab me lunch and painless swelling of one testicle dinner, or something to drink. They drove want to leave my friends. I didn’t want to One of the most curable solid me to and from appointments. They rallied fall behind. I wanted to keep my studies neoplasms with a five-year around me and stepped up to do anything going—I love it in Houghton,” Larry says. survival rate of more than 95 I needed.” percent Huskies are known for keeping rigorous schedules. Larry’s load quickly became Cynthia adds: “Just imagine a bunch of even more full: Diagnosed September college kids dealing with testicular cancer. 28. Surgery to remove cancerous testicle They gave him funny notes to cheer him Testicular cancer October 14. Surgery to place chemo port up. Cheeto balls. Peanuts. They kept his November 18. Weeks of chemo began spirits up, and as his mom, that meant “ affects November 28. “Everything was lined up, everything to me.” young males planned, and ready to go,” he says. As the one-year anniversary of his who typically Between surgeries (the chemo port was diagnosis approaches, Larry’s working 10- lead an finally removed in February), appointments, hour days at a door engineering company and treatment, there and gearing up for active lifestyle.” were the holidays, too. another semester. For Larry, that meant He’s still more traveling to and regaining energy “It’s sort of an inside from campus. “He had chemo stole away. joke between me and surgery on a Friday and He hesitates, my friends.” drove 500 miles the then laughs, as he next day,” his mom says. summarizes that “These kids are a crazy, challenging family. They are kind, Navigating four classes, semester: considerate, polite, cancer, and chemo “One Man. One Nut. funny, and mature. was grueling Larry One Mission.” They are more than recalls. “Appointments roommates. More than and tests every other day. Chemo made party buddies. Maybe it’s because they me feel sick and sometimes irritable. It all are so far away from home?” Cynthia felt overwhelming at times.” Eventually, wonders. Hear more from Larry, and at the urging of Erica Denofre ’98, a his mom, and a few of his civil engineer turned registered nurse in Through cancer, Larry learned a little about friends. Visit
Aspirus Keweenaw’s Outpatient Infusion himself, too: “I’m tougher than I ever knew, mtu.edu/magazine/tenacity. Department, Larry dropped two of his most and there’s no challenge or setback I can’t challenging classes. handle.”
2017 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 3 5 David Shonnard Sustainable Futures Institute Portage Canal Lift Bridge
36 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2017 Start seeing double. That ’s what researchers at the Sustainable Futures Institute do. Because not everything is as it appears: deadly gases lay trapped beneath lake waters; mountains of manure release more than smells; coffee pots, whiteboards, pencils, paper cost more than their price tags.
In each of these cases, engineers studying a product ’s sustainability have to see more than a landscape, trash heap, or everyday object. They see the complex interactions that build up a product ’s whole life from cradle to grave; they call measuring those relationships and impacts a life cycle assessment, often shorthanded to LCA.
While LCAs are a common and widely used technique throughout many engineering fields, it takes a specific frame of mind to apply it to sustainability. David Shonnard is the director of the Sustainable Futures Institute and oversees two programs for students to earn an undergraduate or a graduate certificate in sustainability. He summarizes the mindset like this: “Typically, when an engineer has a complex problem, they break it into smaller problems.” Two-fold when an engineer has a complex problem, they break it into smaller problems 2017 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 3 7 ach fall, Shonnard offers ENG/SS Because of the similar stratification of 5510, Sustainable Futures I, Lake Kivu, natural disaster experts have Ea cross-listed class where worried about the threat of a limnic undergraduates and graduate students eruption and its impacts on the two learn the basics of LCA methodologies million people living on its shores. and the Sima Pro software used for analyses, then apply the lessons to a Fentress happened to be studying term project focusing on a product that Lake Kivu in a geological hazards and they select. Some students choose a mitigation class at the same time she tool related to their field, others look was enrolled in Shonnard ’s Sustainable around the classroom or their homes Future I course. When she found for inspiration—like comparing the out that a specialized power plant in impacts of drip coffee versus single-cup Rwanda drew energy by converting the machines or smartboards versus regular lake’s methane into electricity, Fentress whiteboards. But Sam Fentress ‘16 saw an opportunity to compare the looked abroad and went big. release of greenhouse gases from a limnic eruption versus methane Lake Kivu is a large volcanic lake extraction for power production. bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda in Africa. The “I felt like an explorer,” Fentress waters are highly stratified with thick says, explaining that she sees STEM layers of carbon dioxide and methane research as the opportunity to delve resting at the lake bottom. More than a into new, creative ideas and put geologic anomaly, the heavy gases are some data behind them that make a a danger: in 1986, Lake Nyos, another difference in people’s lives. ”Methane volcanic lake in Cameroon, turned extraction from Lake Kivu mitigates over and exploded in what is called the hazard of a violent limnic eruption, a limnic eruption, releasing hundreds provides electricity to Rwandans, of thousands of tons of heavy gases and substantially decreases the that overwhelmed nearby villages greenhouse gas emission burden on and suffocated nearly 2,000 people. the atmosphere.”
I felt like an explorer
Samantha Fentress GMES Alumna ‘16 Lake Kivu, Rwanda
38 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2017 2017 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 39 Sharath Ankathi PhD Student Heartland Biogas Facility
40 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2017 ethane is also 25 times more Energy and showed in a case study effective as a greenhouse at the Heartland Biogas LLC outside Mgas than carbon dioxide and Denver, Colorado. Whether a biogas is the same gas that Sharath Ankathi facility or a home coffee pot or a natural examined halfway across the world hazard, Shonnard says the power of in a Colorado dump. Large cattle LCAs lies in the ability to scale up. operations are common along the front range and so are piles of manure. “The methods apply to many types of The Environmental Protection Agency manufacturing, and even other activities reports that agriculture emissions like the service economy,” Shonnard account for nine percent of United says. “With any kind of human activity, States greenhouse gas emissions each you can apply an LCA.” year; municipal solid waste accounts for less but between 30 to 40 percent of By putting their LCA expertise to use the country’s food supply gets trashed in so many different challenges, the and 97 percent gets buried in landfills, Sustainable Futures Institute reveals which decomposes and off-gases as the deeper stories of vistas, waste, and methane. common items, showing their intricate connections with people and the rest of Ankathi and Shonnard see that as a the world. waste—not only of food but of energy. Anaerobic digesters convert methane To learn more about the Sustainable into a usable energy source, which Futures Institute, visit sfi.mtu.edu. Ankathi and Shonnard have put some numbers to in a new paper published in Environmental Progress & Sustainable 30 to 40 percent of the country’s food supply gets trashed and 97 percent gets buried in landfills
2017 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 4 1 Alumni Engagement
Q+A
Hockey talk with Head Coach Joe Shawhan
Two things can be said of Michigan Tech men’s ice hockey coach Joe Shawhan: he knows hockey, and he’s a Yooper through and through.
On May 30, Joe Shawhan became the 22nd head coach in the storied history of Michigan Tech hockey. He spent the previous three seasons as an assistant for Mel Pearson.
A native of Sault Ste. Marie in the far eastern Upper Peninsula, Shawhan has coached for all three UP NCAA Division I hockey programs—Lake Superior State, Northern Michigan, and Michigan Tech. As a junior hockey coach, he led the Soo Indians to a 475-162-8 record in 10 seasons to become the winningest coach in North American Hockey League history.
During his three years as an assistant at Tech, working primarily with goaltenders and defensemen, the Huskies went 75-34-14, with two NCAA appearances, a Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) title, and a WCHA tournament championship. The Huskies were ranked second in the WCHA and in the top 10 nationally in goals against average all three years. Goalies Jamie Phillips and Angus Redmond flourished under Shawhan, breaking Tech records. Both have signed with the NHL.
As Michigan Tech Vice President for Student Affairs and Advancement Les Cook said at the press conference announcing Shawhan as head coach, “Winning seems to follow Joe wherever he goes.”
Joe Shawhan is a 20-year veteran of hockey coaching, with more than 10 years in college and 10 years in junior hockey.
42 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2017 Q: First off, congratulations. This Q: You’re known for your expertise coaching vacancy created a lot of in defense and goaltending. Do you Favorite place in the UP: interest in hockey circles. What makes agree with the well-worn notion that My camp in Barbeau the head coach of Michigan Tech such a “defense wins championships”? (about 17 miles south of the Soo) desirable position? A: Players win championships. People win Favorite UP food: A: It’s a Division I head coaching position, championships. Defense and goaltending Fry bread tacos, with nods to pasties, and that’s always going to attract interest. are a big part of it, but commitment to a pickled eggs, and the Big C cheeseburger at But it’s more than that. The excitement common goal, team chemistry, and self- Clyde’s Drive-in (Sault Ste. Marie) in [the UP] for the game of hockey and sacrifice are equally if not more important. the tradition and commitment from the There are no short cuts, no chance of Favorite place to watch a hockey game: University make it a special place. The talent reaching your best level of performance The John J. MacInnes Ice Arena, by far. pool of candidates for the job was very without leadership that has a deep-rooted Great environment. high, maybe the best of any of the coaching foundation of accountability. vacancies that occurred this off-season. I am Favorite NHL team growing up: blessed to have been selected. Q: Taking a look at your team, what do Montreal Canadiens/Detroit Red Wings you feel are the strengths and where Q: You’re the first new Huskies head do you hope to improve? Favorite NHL player growing up: coach in 35 years to replace a coach Tony Esposito with a winning record, so you aren’t A: The strength of Michigan Tech hockey (Montreal Canadiens, Michigan Tech) tasked with “rebuilding” a program. is the character of the players sitting in the Do you feel there’s added pressure to stalls. Going in, we’re most experienced at Biggest career influence: take the program to the next level? the forward position. That’s no secret, but Jeff Jackson (former head coach at LSSU, there are no guarantees. We have to show now at Notre Dame) A: Pressure is internal. I try not to look at it up prepared mentally and physically to in those terms. I know where we stand—our make strides. The best chance a team has of Favorite sport (other than hockey): strengths and weaknesses both collectively success is with individuals that expect it and NFL football and individually. What we’ve lost in the work hard toward it. Every day. All the time. off-season and what we’ve gained. We have We have those types of individuals. Favorite (non-sport) TV show: a long way to go, a lot of new faces in key Game of Thrones positions. My job is to teach in a way that we Q: You’re from Sault Ste. Marie and get a little better every day. have coached at all three UP Division I Guilty Pleasure: hockey programs. Obviously, you feel Banana splits Q: What can Huskies fans expect the UP is a great place to live and raise Husky Hockey to look like under a family. But, what is it that makes UP Coach Shawhan? hockey so special?
A: Hopefully the same. We play the game A: That’s a hard question. I know that people the way I like the game played. We skate, in the UP, in the areas I’ve lived, almost treat we compete, we swarm. I was not hired hockey as a religion. What makes the UP to change Husky Hockey. I was hired to special is the people. I love the region. I continue the trend. The staff we put in place would have been fine if I could have made was selected because they share the same my living fishing or hunting or camping or philosophies. Different tactics and wrinkles, boating or riding a sled. What I do is not a but the same philosophy. job. Honestly, I hope I never wake up from my dream. I’m thankful I don’t have to get a real job.
2017 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 4 3
ast fall, mechanical engineering Nishik, India, about 30 years ago. major Harsh Malu felt like any “That made me and Prannay
first-year Michigan Tech student— cousins! My family and close friends a little nervous. Huskies travel far back home could not believe it!” and wide to get to campus, and Harsh was moving 8,000 miles from his home of about three million people in Sangli, India, to Houghton, As the school year marched on, the Michigan—population 12,000. fourth cousins became more like brothers. “Harsh is like my younger “I was looking for a peaceful place brother, and I feel responsible for to study away from the hustle and him. I love being a big brother— bustle,” Harsh says. making sure he’s comfortable, helping him,” Prannay says. Anxiety hovered as Harsh wondered if he could or would make any “Prannay is who I call at 2 AM,” friends. Harsh says. “He’s who will cook for me, anytime day or night. He wants “There’s an active Indian community good things for me. I remember on campus, but just because I might one day he called me and asked look like another student doesn’t what I was doing. He told me to mean I know them or am friends with drop everything, put on formals, them.” and come to the ISA general elections. He encouraged me to Harsh’s trepidation eased when run for the fundraising chairperson he attended a ceremony for Lord position. I took his advice, and now Ganesha (god of wisdom and I’m the chair. I’m so grateful for his learning and remover of obstacles) encouragement.” hosted by the Indian Students Association (ISA). Prannay has since graduated and is working with Astute Engineering “A new friend let me know there was LLC, a Metro DC-area startup. someone at the ceremony with the “I miss the safety and security of same last name as me, and that I had Houghton. I’m from a small town of to meet him,” Harsh says. about two million people back home in India; Houghton changed my That someone was Prannay Malu definition of small. Everyone was so ’17, then an electrical engineering kind and caring, always looking out master’s student. “It’s an for one another.” unbelievable thing, really. “Huskies struggle together, because In India, it’s in the end, we all want good jobs,” pretty rare Prannay says. “I’m no longer on to encounter campus, but want the best for someone Harsh. There will be hardships and with the same challenges—it will make him a better surname,” person, a better human.” Prannay explains. Back in India, Harsh and Prannay were 10 hours apart in a country with Harsh phoned more than a billion people. Would home after they have ever met? “No, I don’t the gathering. think so,” Harsh says. “It happened “I asked my because of Michigan Tech—and it’s granny if we a miracle.” had any cousins Do you have a crazy, only-at-Tech who aren’t in connection? Tell us— the city anymore. And she said, ‘Go [email protected]. on . . . ’ She told me how Prannay’s family migrated from our city to
44 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2017 Alumni Engagement
REUNION RECAP 40 stuffed mascots. Nearly 400 pasties. And more than 40 Golden M inductees.
A record 677 alumni and friends attended Reunion 2017 to honor our past, see what’s new, and find out what awaits.
This year’s featured classes—2007, 1997, 1992, 1987, 1977, 1967, and 1957—raised $876,146 in class gifts, and $4,000 was raised during a silent auction for the Women of Michigan Tech scholarship fund.
2017 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 4 5 Alumni Engagement
The cool mist of Hungarian Falls. Sunsets atop Brockway Mountain. Skiing powder on Mont Ripley. Late nights playing broomball.
What’s on your #HuskyBucketList? Add your must-dos to the Alumni and Friends Bucket List by the decades! Share memories and photos for your bucket list at mtu.edu/alumni/ favorites/bucketlist/decades.
And visit mtu.edu/bucketlist GIVING BACK. for a checklist of 85 Michigan Tech traditions, Keweenaw favorites, and what it means SERVING OTHERS. to be a Husky. CREATING THE FUTURE. Eight individuals were recognized by the Michigan Technological University Alumni Board of Directors at its annual Alumni Dinner and Awards Ceremony during this year’s Alumni Reunion. President Glenn Mroz presented the Michigan Technological University Board of Control Silver Medal to John L. Drake ’64 ’69 and Norbert J. Verville Sr. ’60. These alumni and friends also were honored for their achievements: Outstanding Young Alumnus Kevin C. Baker ‘04 ‘05; Honorary Alumnus John C. Dau; Outstanding Service Paul H. Mikkola ‘66; Distinguished Alumnus John J. Rockwell ‘79; Humanitarian Sanna B. Roling ‘67 and Nicholas H. Schreiner ‘11.
SAVE THE DATE! Make plans to join us for Alumni Reunion 2018, August 2-4.
The featured classes will be the Golden M’s (Class of 1968) as well as the classes of 1958, 1978, 1988, 1993, 1998, and 2008.
46 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2017 Alumni Engagement
Angela Johnston works for one Little Snugglers at Kimberly-Clark In her 17 years at Kimberly-Clark, TECH of the largest consumer products Corporation. She’s worked with Johnston has traveled across companies, and she’s developed a hospitals and neonatal intensive the globe, seen products she’s ALUMNA product to help the smallest human care units to design the best diaper developed on store shelves, and beings. for preemies. accepted Product of the Year DESIGNS Awards for Kimberly-Clark in Times LITTLEST The Michigan Technological Her path to Kimberly-Clark started Square. University chemical engineering at Michigan Tech, where she DIAPER alumna developed, followed in the footsteps of her “I really love what I do,” she says. tested, verified, and older sister, Maria Thielbar, a 1997 “Being a champion for the target commercialized a chemical engineering graduate. consumer means I put myself in new diaper designed She credits Tech’s impressive job someone else’s shoes and imagine especially for premature placement rate and a University better solutions.” babies. Board of Control Scholarship for helping her earn her degree. Johnston met her husband, Jim, “As a scientist and a when he was also studying chemical mother, it is something Michigan Tech teaches you how to engineering at Michigan Tech. I’m proud to be a part of,” think, Johnston says. The couple lives in New London, she says. Wisconsin, with their daughters “Like many teenagers, I didn’t know Jane, 11, and Kate, 10. Solving problems is what chemical engineers did,” she what Johnston, a 2000 says. “Chemical engineers think Have you invented a product or Michigan Tech graduate, about a situation or problem from gotten a patent? Send us your does every day in multiple angles, are creative, and story: [email protected]. her role as product unafraid of working hard to come technical leader for Huggies® up with solutions.” SUPPORTER. Jim Sarazin has donated to “A moderate amount of giving over After graduating from Lake Linden DONOR. Michigan Tech every year for almost time makes a difference,” he says. High School with Linda, Sarazin HUSKIES 40 years, and the last 20 of those enrolled in pre-medicine at years have been as a member of Sarazin is the fourth generation in Michigan Tech, taking the pre- FAN. the President Club. And for nearly his family to live in the Keweenaw. med/pre-dental curriculum with an 40 years, he and his wife Linda, His great-grandfather traversed emphasis on chemistry and biology. both avid hockey fans, have Canada to settle in the Bootjack been season ticket holders to area in the 1800s. There the Sarazin He attended dental school at the Michigan Tech hockey games. family built what is now Dreamland University of Michigan, returning to Restaurant and Bar. Two of Sarazin’s the Keweenaw to open his practice. Supporting Michigan Tech is siblings operate the establishment just part of Sarazin’s life. today. “I have a deep appreciation for the education I received at Michigan His eyes were first opened to Sarazin is a dentist in Hancock, Tech,” says Sarazin. giving during a conversation serving the community for nearly with Bert Whitten, Sarazin’s 42 years. He and Linda have been “Michigan Tech got me where I am biology professor and advisor married for 45 years. Their son, today. It’s part of me.” at Michigan Tech. Tyler ’07, is also a dentist, working alongside his dad at their practice, To learn about ways your gift “He was starting a medical Sarazin Dental on Quincy Street. can support Michigan Tech, or to alumni scholarship and asked me Son Ryan is a history teacher and make an end-of-year gift, visit to donate,” Sarazin recalls. And hockey coach in Fond du Lac, mtu.edu/giving. so began a lifetime of giving to Wisconsin. The couple enjoy Michigan Tech. spending time with their three grandchildren.
2017 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 4 7 CLASS NOTES Share your news! Post your class note and photo online at MyMichiganTech or email to [email protected]. New addition in your family? Let us know. They will receive a special gift from Blizzard T. Husky.
Benjamin Almquist ’04 (Materials Science and Engineering) 1970s 1990s gave a talk at the 2017 World Frederic Wilson ’71 (Geology) is Don Bragg ’92 ’95 (Forestry), a Economic Forum Annual Meeting of enjoying his ffth decade at the US US Forest Service Southern Research New Champions in Dalian, China, on Geological Survey (USGS) in Alaska. Station (SRS) research forester, has the need to develop new disruptive He recently completed the frst been named project leader for two therapies for healing diabetic foot geologic map of Alaska in 35 years. research work units. He will assume ulcers and other chronic wounds. It is a fully digital product, designed leadership responsibilities for the to be an analytical tool and a printed work unit he is currently assigned to, Jessica (Kirkpatrick) Parrott ‘04 map. The publication of the map was the Southern Pine Ecology research (Chemical Engineering) and John announced on PBS News Hour and work unit headquartered on the Parrott Jr. had a masquerade-themed the production process featured in University of Arkansas campus in wedding on January 16, 2016, at an article on The Conversation.com. Monticello, Arkansas. Bragg will the Indiana Theater in Terre Haute, He is now working on a geologic also serve as project leader for the Indiana. Jessica has spent 13 years map of the Greater Antilles in the Restoring and Managing Longleaf working for Marathon Petroleum and Caribbean. Pine Ecosystems research work unit. John has spent nine years working Bragg holds a doctorate in forest for Marathon Pipeline. The couple ecology from Utah State University. S. Randin (Randy) ’72 (Mining resides in Lawrenceville, Illinois. Engineering) and Marylyn (Cuff) He is attending the US Forest The couple proudly announces the Sandrik are retired and live in Frisco, Service’s senior leadership program birth of their daughter, Kennedy Texas. They have children living and will graduate in November. Grace, who was born March 2, 2017. in Alabama (Stephen and Julie) Kennedy was welcomed home by and California (Sara), and their Kathryn Remlinger ’95 half-brother, Silas Lee Parrott. grandchildren are in Alabama. (Rhetoric and Technical Communication) published a book, Allison (Michels) Liddle ’05 Yooper Talk: Dialect as Identity in (Scientifc and Technical Garey Johnson ’72 (Electrical Engineering) wrote a book, Golf and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, by the Communication) is fnishing up Marriage: Improve Your Marriage by University of Wisconsin Press. writing her frst book, Life Under Improving Your Golf. Construction: Designing a Life that You Love!. Liddle will travel Jennifer Jermalowicz-Jones ’98 (Biological Sciences) received her with John Maxwell and his team Rebecca Freund ’77 (Biological to Paraguay in September, serving Sciences) moved back to Houghton PhD in Water Resource Studies from Michigan State University. She 10,000 business, youth and after a 40-year hiatus since government entities to teach them graduating from Tech. formed a lake restoration company in 2012 called Restorative Lake about leadership. Her husband, Tony Sciences. Liddle ’05 (Business Administration), also owns a nationally awarded fnancial planning frm called Prosper Wealth Management (prosperwealth. 1980s com). Chris Adams ’81 (Metallurgical Engineering) and wife, Carolyn, 2000s retired from Los Alamos National Matthew Draper ’01 (Mechanical Laboratory after 23 years of service. Engineering) and wife, Kelly, They are building a home in Dexter, welcomed their son, Archer Michigan, and live in Plymouth, Alexander, February 2016. Michigan. Katherine Kontio ’02 (Applied Ecology and Environmental Science) and fancé, Robert Coffelt, welcomed their frst child, Paxton James, on May 14, 2017.
48 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2017 Class Notes
Garrett Coffin ’05 (Civil Engineering) and Nicole (Carlson) Coffin ‘04 (Social Sciences) welcomed their little Husky, a daughter, Devin Rose, on April 29, 2017, in Plano, Texas.
Ryan Smith ’07 (Chemical Engineering) received his Professional Engineering License (Chemical) from the Texas Board of Professional Engineers on December 11, 2015. His son, Kyle Russell Smith, was born on March 23, 2015, and just turned two years old.
Chris DeDene ‘09 ‘11 (Civil Engineering) and Rita Lederle ‘11 (Civil Engineering) welcomed future Husky, Michael James, into their family November 2016. The family lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, where Chris is a pavement engineer at American Engineering Testing Inc. and Rita is a professor at the University of St. Thomas. 2010s Steve Schaenzer ‘12 (Mechanical Engineering) and Anna (Miller) Schaenzer ‘12 (Mechanical Engineering) were married on April 22, 2017.
Taylor (Driscoll) Giddings ’15 (Mechanical Engineering Technology) and Joseph Giddings ’12 ‘15 (Marketing, Business Administration) were married in Detroit, Michigan, on June 24, 2017.
Alanie Harmon ’16 (Biomedical Engineering, Environmental Engineering) and Kaleb Sager announce the birth of their daughter, Aurora Adelaide, born on March 22, 2017.
Thomas Witherspoon ’13 ’14 and his wife, Allycia, welcomed a son, Arliden (Arly) Thomas Witherspoon, on August 25, 2017. The couple met while students at Tech.
Nan (Davis) Pond ’12 and Travis Pond ’10 welcomed their frst child, Cyrus James Houghton Pond, on September 8, 2017. The couple met as students at Tech.
2017 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 4 9 IN MEMORIAM
1941 1954 1961 1971 1988 Glenford R. Huber Gilbert G. Gildner Richard W. Lemke Warren B. Cummings Pat D. Peterson Emil M. Szten Clark A. Lebo James J. Russo Jr. H. Davis Kuhn Sharon A. White 1990 1942 1955 1972 Alan L. Mikovits Elmer J. Dupuis Nicholas J. Eck 1963 Gerald R. Blondin Marlene B. Adams Jeffry M. Vistain 1993 1947 1956 Richard D. Kay Ray J. Ozols George M. North III Dale C. Anderson Samuel S. Ochodnicky 1974 Kauko E. Leppanen John D. Perry Lorraine A. Fowler 2007 1949 Glenn A. Shockley Marinus L. Wouden Jennifer L. Hafeli Robert E. Campbell 1964 Julian M. Kevianne George A. Spratt 1957 Robert W. Laakso 1976 Martin E. Stuk Llewellyn W. Aho David W. Pray Jack R. Cerasoli Donald R. Stevens 1950 Francis J Stifter 1965 1979 Elio Argentati Eugene E. Overmyer Roger R. Kolb Grant K. Cornell, PE, 1958 Jr. Robert E. Niemela USAFR L/C Vance D. MacDonald, Duane L. Sarkela Russell J. Osterman MD 1980 William D. Smith 1966 Steven J. Daavettila Clement M. Walker 1959 Robert C. Nelson Richard J. Srnec Ronald J. Pasquinelli, John S. Voorhees 1951 PE 1982 David S. Nancarrow Donald L. Richmond 1967 Gul S. Goksel Gayle D. Petrick, PE John D. McDaniels Jr. 1960 1984 1952 Howard E. Hanson 1968 Larry R. Coke Hugh M. Vary Roger E. Heintz William R. Steeb Robert J. Turnbull Lloyd D. Johnson 1953 Roy H. Miller 1970 Richard J. Braun Robert W. Stenfors Dr. Hugh L. Hondorp Robert D. Wood Richard O. Swanson
50 MICHIGAN TECH MAGAZINE 2017 “Good fortune is only a loan. Pass it on.” –Rudy ‘62 ‘63 and Judy Shunta
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Nanosatellites. Cleaner snowmobiles. Better prosthetics.
This is Michigan Tech’s Innovation Shore.
"We're building cleaner snowmobiles, launching nanosatellites, and improving prosthetics. We're not on the way to anywhere, but the Michigan Tech experience puts people on the road to everywhere they want to go." –Glenn D. Mroz, President of Michigan Technological University mtu.edu/innovation